Closing toilets will save more pennies

FOUR public toilet blocks could be closed under council plans to save £128,000 a year.

Newcastle Borough Council, which runs nine public toilets, is carrying out a review of its facilities.

The authority says it wants to improve services and cut costs for taxpayers.

The proposals would see improvements made to the toilets in Hassell Street, Newcastle, where facilities would also be available on Sundays, from 10am to 4pm.

Plans to improve the toilet block in Heathcote Street, Kidsgrove, and facilities at Alexandra Road, Wolstanton, are being considered.

But conveniences in Liverpool Road, Kidsgrove, would close when the Heathcote Street work was completed.

Facilities in Congleton Road, Butt Lane, which have not been used for more than a year due to vandalism, would not reopen and the conveniences in Northwood Lane, Clayton, said to be in a poor state of repair, would also shut.

New toilets, with baby changing facilities, are currently being built in Chesterton Park. But when work is complete, the toilet facilities next to Chesterton Community Centre will shut.

But taxpayers told The Sentinel they believed they should be getting more services for their money, not less.

Anthony Hill, aged 32, from William Road, Kidsgrove, said: "They are obviously being used, so they should be kept open. They can't cost that much to run."

Graham Sutton, chairman of Clough Hall Residents' Association, said: "With the toilets in Kidsgrove, the association has received comments from people who believe both should remain open.

"A lot of elderly people use those toilets. Personally, I'm not for them shutting."

No changes are proposed at sites in Merrial Street, Newcastle, and Bradwell Lane, Porthill.

Councillor David Becket, council cabinet member for environment and recycling, said: "The aim is to make sure public conveniences continue to be provided in the areas of highest need and we invest in improvements in key locations."

"They also provide an opportunity for the council to make a saving of £128,000 a year by revising current costs."

The proposed changes will be discussed by the council's cabinet on February 17.